Piedras Marcadas Canyon

Albuquerque, New Mexico

West of the city, the eastern edge of West Mesa exposes a 17-mile-long volcanic escarpment. A portion of the escarpment is protected in Petroglyph National Monument. This trail system leads hikers to the largest concentration of petroglyphs in the monument.
Petroglyph National Monument was established to protect an estimated 20,000 petroglyphs from the encroachment of suburban Albuquerque. Although not a wilderness experience, Piedras Marcadas Canyon is one of the least visited portions of the monument. The main trail heads west, then southwest, and soon turns west into Piedras Marcadas Canyon. Along the way, several side loops lead to petroglyph areas. There are a large number of informal trails, but the area is small and it’s difficult to get lost. Plans are afoot to close the informal trails to protect the resource.

West of the city, the eastern edge of West Mesa exposes a 17-mile-long volcanic escarpment. A portion of the escarpment is protected in Petroglyph National Monument. This trail system leads hikers to the largest concentration of petroglyphs in the monument.

Petroglyph National Monument was established to protect an estimated 20,000 petroglyphs from the encroachment of suburban Albuquerque. Although not a wilderness experience, Piedras Marcadas Canyon is one of the least visited portions of the monument. The main trail heads west, then southwest, and soon turns west into Piedras Marcadas Canyon. Along the way, several side loops lead to petroglyph areas. There are a large number of informal trails, but the area is small and it’s difficult to get lost. Plans are afoot to close the informal trails to protect the resource.